Pencil sharpening device



Sept. 28, 1965 Filed June 13, 1963 V- M. JAFELICE PENCIL SHARPENING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WZQMJM Sept. 28, 1965 V. M- JAFELICE PENCIL SHARPENING DEVICE Filed June 13, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR United States Patent 3,208,435 PENCIL SHARPENING DEVICE Victor M. .Iafelice, Kuhl Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed June 13, 1963, Ser. No. 287,550 3 Claims. (Cl. 120-94) This invention relates generally to devices for the sharpening of pencils and more particularly to an automatic sharpening device for pencils which is novel in operation and capable of producing a fine pointed head on a pencil applied thereto.

An examination of the prior art in the field of pencil sharpeners reveals numerous devices both manually and electrically powered and while such devices function with varying degrees of efficiency they are nevertheless subject to certain inherent disadvantages. Thus, those prior devices having the characteristics of mechanical simplicity and comprising a minimum of parts are generally disclosed as hand operated models employing the well known system of contra-rotating rollers tapered to form the conventional conical pencil head and having grooved or ridged grinding faces formed thereon. 'In all such art I have found it necessary for the operator to use one hand to work a driving crank and the other to locate and maintain the pencil in position.

Powered devices as disclosed in the art, appear to me as embodying a multiplicity of working parts, thus inevitably making their production costs relatively high.

Having in mind therefore the utility of a pencil sharpener, particularly in such establishments as commercial offices, drafting rooms and the like, where pencils are in constant use, and wishing to combine the simplicity of hand powered pencil sharpening devices with the efiiciency of electrical powered ones, it is a primary object of my invention to provide a sharpening device for pencils referred to hereinafter by the term pencil sharpener which While being novel in operation, comprises a minimum of parts, is highly efiicient in use and requires the use of one hand only during the sharpening process.

Another important object of the instant invention provides a pencil sharpener of the character heretofore described which may be manufactured for use with a mains supply, or dry cell power pack.

A further object of my invention seeks to provide a pencil sharpener which is relatively inexpensive to produce and maintain.

Yet another object of this invention resides in the provision of a pencil sharpener, the sharpening medium of which may easily and cheaply be replaced upon its becoming worn.

Still a further object of the invention provides a pencil sharpener which may be affixed to the edge of a desk or table, or may be simply placed on a table top.

These and various other pertinent objects and features of my invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of parts and assemblies and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a part cut away perspective view of a pencil sharpener embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of my invention.

FIG. 3 is a part sectional side elevation of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1 taken on the line 3-3 and showing the operative parts thereof.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the invention, showing a pencil guide aflixed thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a pencil sharpener embodying my invention and indicated generally by the arrow 11 includes a housing 12 having a circular wall 13, a base 14 and a semi-circular top 15, housing 12 should 3,208,435 Patented Sept. 28, 196! preferably be formed from a suitable impact resistan plastic or the like, although it is not intended to limit tht housing to such.

An elongate plate member 16 is pivotally mountec through its transverse axis upon a pivot pin 16a, pivo pin 16a being located Within housing 12 and extending diametrically thereacross, its opposite ends each being located within circular wall 13. Ends 16b and 16c 01 plate 16 terminate just short of the inner periphery 01 wall 13, the pivotal action of plate 16 being defined by two oppositely located stop members 17b and 17c, members 17b and 170 being formed on the inner surface 01 wall 13 and projecting perpendicularly inwardly therefrom.

Members 17b and 170 are located subjacent ends 1711 and respectively of plate 16 and allow limited pivotal action thereto.

Plate 16 has an orifice 16d formed therethrough, orifice 16d being located a short distance from the transverse axis of plate '16.

A circular plate 19 having a diameter slightly less than that of housing 12 has a concentric flange 19a formed on its underside and a centrally located orifice 19b passing therethrough.

A circular plate 20 having a central orifice 20a and a milled or serrated edge 20b formed thereon is assembled concentrically with plate 19 and in frictional contact with flange 19a, a threaded pin 21 passing therethrough, pin 21 having a head 21a and an unthreaded portion 211). A nut 22 adapted to thread onto pin 21 retains plate 19 and plate 20 in a friction fit, lock washers 23 located on each side of plate 20 ensuring a secour contact therebetween.

During assembly plate 19 and plate 20 are located with in housing 12 orifice 16d of plate 16 being adapted to freely receive unthreaded portion 21b of pin 21, and nut 22 bearing against theupper surface of plate 16.

Plate 16 is adapted to support a fractional horse power motor 23. Motor 23 being ai'fixed thereto by conventional mounting means 24 and depending downwardly therefrom. A drive shaft 25 motivated by motor 23 extends upwardly through an orifice formed in plate 16 and terminates in a concentric drive wheel 26.

It should be noted that circular plate 20 has its milled edge 20b in frictional contact with drive wheel 26.

Motor 23 has a conventional micro-switch 27 mounted on its outer casing, micro-switch 27 having a press to operate trip arm 27a projecting perpendicularly outwardly therefrom.

The location of motor 23 and pin 21 are such as substantially to balance plate 16 about pivot pin 16a so that in the horizontal position plate 16 has its respective ends 16b and 16c positioned at equal distances above their relative stop members 17b and 170.

A helical spring 28 is attached at its upper end 28a to the underside of plate 16 substantially midway between pivot pin 16a and motor 23, lower end 28b of spring 28 being attached to base 14 of housing 12, spring 28 biasing plate 16 downwardly so that its end 160 is in contact with stop member 170.

Electrical leads 29 connecting motor 23 and microswitch 27 are fed into a conventional power socket 30 located within Wall 13 of housing 12, power socket 30 being adapted to receive a power plug 31, and mains supply via extension leads 32.

A circular sheet of emery cloth or sand paper 33 of similar diameter to plate 19 is affixed to the upper surface thereof by adhesive means or the like and serves as an abrasive medium for the sharpening of pencils.

During operation of a pencil sharpener 11, the point of a pencil is placed at a preferred angle upon the exposed gortion of sand paper disc 33 and lightly biased there- 1gainst. Pressure from the pencil point causes the plate 16 to pivot about pin 16a, end 16b of plate 16 moving downwardly until checked by stop member 17b. As end 16b of plate 16 moves downwardly, opposite end 160 rises an equal distance thereby causing motor 23 to move actuately upwardly. As motor 23 moves upwardly, trip arm 27a of micro-switch 27 is biased against a lug member 34 attached to wall 13 of housing 12 and projecting perpendicularly inwardly therefrom. As trip arm 27a is activated, micro-switch 27 closes and completes the electrical circuit thereby causing motor 23 to operate and rotate drive shaft 25. Drive wheel 26, which is in frictional contact with disc 20 imparts rotation thereto and circular plate 19 with sand paper disc 33 revolves, thereby frictionally sharpening the pencil point.

It will readily be apparent that the pencil should be rotated about its longitudinal axis in order to effect the even sharpening thereof and in order to obtain the conventional conical point.

During operation of pencil sharpener 11, spring 28 will be slightly extended thereby exerting a downward pull on plate 16.

Upon removing the pencil from sandpaper disc 33, spring 28 will quickly return plate 16 to its non-operative position. Although inclusion of spring 28 may be optional, plate 16 being so balanced as to return automatically to the non-operative position upon pressure being lifted from disc 33, it is felt that its inclusion will ensure against any tendency for plate 16 to remain in an unbalanced attitude after the pencil has been lifted from disc 33.

A G-clamp 40 may be affixed to body 12 of pencil sharpener 11, so that table or desk mounting thereof may be effected if required. In the event of pencil sharpener 11 being placed on a table top or desk top, a plurality of rubber supports 35 are located upon base 14.

Referring now to FIG. 4 a pencil support indicated at 36 includes the semi-circular spring clips 36a and 36b joined at their respective bases by a pivot pin 37. Pivot pin 37 also retains clips 36a and 36b within a base sup port 38, base 38 being located upon semi-circular top 15 of body 12.

During the sharpening of a pencil 39, insertion thereof between spring clips 36a and 36b allows the operator to select the required angle of contact between the pencil point and disc 33, spring clips 36a and 36b being pivotally housed within base 38. Having selected the required angle, downward pressure on the pencil point activates pencil sharpener 11 as heretofore described, pencil 39 being easily rotated about its longitudinal axis in order to achieve the correct form of point thereon.

The general design of the individual parts of the invention as explained above may be varied according to requirements in regards to manufacture and production thereof, while still remaining within the spirit and principle of the invention without prejudicing the novelty thereof.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exelusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as ol o s:

1. A sharpening device for drafting pencils and the like including housing means; a plate member pivotally mounted within said housing means; stop members located subjacent and in close proximity to the ends of said plate member, said stop members allowing limited pivotal action thereto; a first circular plate having a concentric flange formed on its underside said circular plate being freely receivable within said housing means; a second circular plate of less diameter than said first circular plate; said plate member, said first circular plate and said second circular plate each having a central orifice formed therethrough; a pin, said pin passing freely through said orifices, said pin having a threaded portion formed thereon; nut means threadably locatable upon said threaded portion of said pin, said nut upon being tightened effecting a friction fit between said flange of said first circular plate and said second circular plate; said first and said second circular plates being rotatable Within said housing means; motor means mounted to and subjacent said plate; electric input means for the powering of said motor; a drive means extending upwardly from said motor means and through said plate member; a drive wheel mounted upon the end of said drive means and said drive wheel being in pressural contact with the peripheral edge of said second circular plate; switch means mounted within said housing means; spring means biasing said plate member to a first position, said switch means thereby being open circuited; an abrasive medium detachably attached to the upper surface of said first circular plate; and downward pressure imposed substantially toward the outer edge of said first circular plate in such a location as to cause said plate member to pivot to a second position, effecting the closing of said switch means, thereby activating said motor and causing said second and said first circular plate to rotate.

2. In a sharpening device for drafting pencils and the like as defined in claim 1, a pencil support including two semi-circular spring clips joined at their respective bases by a pivot pin, said clips being pivotally retained within a base support mounted on the upper surface of said semi-circular top, said clips being capable of receiving a pencil shaft therebetween and holding the same in light frictional retention.

3. A sharpening device for pencils and the like as defined in claim 1 in which said semi-circular top is detachably attached to said circular wall of said housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,528,142 3/25 Bourquin 42.06 X 1,545,408 7/25 Drummond l2095 2,146,288 2/39 De Lisle l20-95 2,243,490 5/41 Walker l2096 2,614,534 10/52 Rocks l2095 X 2,618,240 11/52 Haase 120-96 2,738,768 3/56 Johnson 120-96 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, JEROME SCHNALL,

Examiners. 

1. A ASHARPENING DEVICE FOR DRAFTING PENCILS AND THE LIKE INCLUDING HOUSING MEANS; A PLATE MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING MEANS; STOP MEMBERS LOCATED SUBJACENT AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE ENDS OF SAID PLATE MEMBER, SAID STOP MEMBERS ALLOWING LIMITED PIVOTAL ACTION THERETO; A FIRST CIRCULAR PLATE HAVING A CONCENTRIC FLANGE FORMED ON ITS UNDERSIDE SAID CIRCULAR PLATE BEING FREELY RECEIVABLE WITHIN SAID HOUSING MEANS; A SECOND CIRCULAR PLATE OF LESS DIAMETER THAN SAID FIRST CIRCULAR PLATE; SAID PLATE MEMBER, SAIDL FIRST CIRCULAR PLATE AND SAID SECOND CIRCULAR PLATE EACH HAVING A CENTRAL ORIFICE FORMED THERETHROUGH; A PIN, SAID PIN PASSING FREELY THROUGH SAID ORIFICES, SAID PIN HAVING A THREADED PORTION FORMED THEREON; NUT MEANS THREADABLY LOCATABLE UPON SAID THREADED PORTION OF SAID PIN SAID NUT UPON BEING TIGHTENED EFFECTING A FRICTION FIT BETWEEN SAID FLANGE OF SAID FIRST CIRCULAR PLATE AND SAID SECOND CIRCULAR PLATE; SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND CIRCULAR PLATES BEING ROTATABLE WITHIN SAID HOUSING MEANS; MOTOR MEANS MOUNTED TO AND SUBJACENT SAID PLATE; ELECTRIC INPUT MEANS FOR THE POWERING OF SAID MOTOR; A DRIVE MEANS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID MOTOR MEANS AND THROUGH SAID PLATE MEMBER; A DRIVE WHEEL MOUNTED UPON THE END OF SAID DRIVE MEANS AND SAID DRIVE WHEEL BEING IN PRESSURAL CONTACT WITH THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID SECOND CIRCULAR PLATE; SWITCH MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING MEANS; SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID PLATE MEMBER TO A FIRST POSITION, SAID SWITCH MEANS THEREBY BEING OPEN CIRCUITED; AN ABRASIVE MEDIUM DATACHABLY ATTACHED TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID FIRST CIRCULAR PLATE; AND DOWNWARD PRESSURE IMPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY TOWARD THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID FIRST CIRCULAR PLATE IN LSUCH A LOCATION AS TO CAUSE SAID PLATE MEMBER TO PIVOT TO A SECOND POSITION, EFFECTING THE CLOSING OF SAID SWITCH MEANS, THEREBY ACTIVATING SAID MOTOR AND CAUSING SAID SECOND ANDL SAID FIRST CIRCULAR PLATE TO ROTATE. 